Private Project

Always, It's You

A woman is so distraught over the recent death of her mother that she wishes her ghost into existence. Unfortunately, her grandmother's ghost is hot on her tail. Even in death, families find a way to bicker.

  • Allan McLeod
    Director
    You're the Worst
  • Robin Long
    Writer
    Throwing Shade, After Adderall
  • Robin Long
    Producer
    Throwing Shade, After Adderall
  • Robin Long
    Key Cast
    "Molly"
    Throwing Shade, After Adderall
  • Bonnie Bentley
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
    Robot and Frank, Veep
  • Anastasia Barnes
    Key Cast
    "Grandmother"
    Patriots Day, Rizzoli and Isles
  • Maya Ferrarra
    Key Cast
    "Great-Grandmother"
  • Callie Harlan
    Key Cast
    "Great-Great-Grandmother"
  • Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett
    Key Cast
    "Great-Great-Great-Grandmother"
  • Miriam Katz
    Key Cast
    "Great-Great-Great-Great Grandmother"
  • Senda Bonnet
    Cinematographer
  • Lynna Lam
    Editor
    Last Meal, Spoiled Milk
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Dramedy, Fantasy
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 1, 2019
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    July 20, 2019
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Allan McLeod

Allan McLeod is an actor/writer/director based in Los Angeles. He is an alum of the University Of Alabama and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre who has appeared on such shows as Parks And Recreation, Drunk History, and You’re The Worst. He has directed sketch comedy and commercials for FunnyOrDie, Yahoo Sports, Toyota, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Allan couldn’t be more excited to share his latest directing effort, “Always, It’s You” with the world.

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Director Statement

Personal Statement from Writer-Producer Robin Long.

When my Mom died in June of 2017, at first, I thought I’d be okay. I was prepared. She had a long ugly battle with stage 4 lung cancer. I knew it was coming. I hadn’t been in denial. But my grief caught me off guard. It came on in sudden waves. I would be fine. And out of nowhere. Boom. When I burned a cake that I was making for a friend’s birthday, I found myself sobbing and rocking myself in the fetal position on the floor of my tiny kitchen. I live a couple of thousand miles away from my family. One of my favorite ways to connect with my Mom was through cooking. We shared recipes. I called her for advice when I wondered what “spongey” meant or “how small should these small clumps be?” I shared pictures of my cooking process and nothing made me feel better than my Mom’s approval. Or after she tried a recipe that I recommended. That was the highest praise. It didn’t get better than that. I don’t want to minimize any of the other ways that my Mom was brilliant, but there was something sacred about the time we shared in the kitchen. It was the easiest way to get a good conversation in while we were chopping veggies or kneading dough. She was a really busy woman, so she didn’t have time for lounging and talking. You had to catch her in an activity.

Sometimes I feel really behind in life because I’m not married, I don’t have a baby, I’m still chasing a far fetched dream and I live in a studio apartment. One day, when I was being particularly mean to myself, I realized something. My grandmothers would have been thrilled to live my life! No one to answer to, no diapers to change, no husband to fight with. Today, I get to make all of my own choices, which was unheard of just two generations ago. This realization gave me a new burst of energy and gratitude for the sacrifices they made. It’s because of them, because of the battles they fought that I get to be here.

In writing and producing this film, I felt their presence. Throughout the shoot with our mostly female team, I was reminded of the tribal, collaborative nature of women. It didn’t take the grief away, but there was something soothing about having the opportunity to honor them. This film is a thank you card to my mom. It’s a love letter to all of my grandmothers.